2007 Vauxhall Signum — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,635 MOT tests, the 2007 Vauxhall Signum recorded a 71.4% pass rate. That is 1.9 percentage points worse than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.7%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (15.5%) and lighting & signalling (13.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, rigid brake pipes and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 188 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2007 Signum fails 26.5% of the time in the 30-60k band and 29.4% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.9 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 28.6% of the time against 28.9% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 36.0% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.5% | 408 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.5% | 355 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.7% | 307 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.3% | 192 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.5% | 172 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.4% | 142 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 188 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 163 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 150 |
| 4 | Joints | 121 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 113 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 99 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 36.0% | 950 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.0% | 791 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.9% | 787 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.6% | 490 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 380 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.8% | 311 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 117 | 26.5% |
| 60-90k | 409 | 23.7% |
| 90-120k | 715 | 28.9% |
| 120-150k | 760 | 30.5% |
| 150k+ | 616 | 29.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,081 | 28.6% |
| Petrol | 554 | 28.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 797 | 27.9% |
| 2022 | 645 | 28.5% |
| 2023 | 531 | 29.6% |
| 2024 | 374 | 29.4% |
| 2025 | 288 | 28.5% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Signum
On a 2007 Signum, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (15.5% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (13.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.7% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2007 Vauxhall Signums pass their MOT?
71.4% of the 2,635 2007 Vauxhall Signum MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Vauxhall Signum?
Suspension, recorded in 15.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.5%).
Does the 2007 Signum get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.5% in the 30-60k band to 29.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,635 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.